2025 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLS CVT

The Simple Things

As someone who recently turned 34, it always surprises me how the 1990s have had such a far-reaching influence. While the 2000s was the decade I grew up in, it was the 90s that helped shape my love for anything with four wheels.

Don’t get me wrong - I do love how automakers are making vehicles high-tech today, but they are also becoming more complicated. While having more features and amenities available is a welcome sign, this can also lead to more stuff breaking, which adds to maintenance costs over time.

In the past, cars were simpler. They didn’t have too much in the way of technology, but that also meant they simply worked every time you turned the key. I believe having a vehicle that's simple yet reliable is underrated at these times, as cars continue to become supercomputers on wheels.

Enter the Mitsubishi Mirage G4. There's no denying that it's no spring chicken, but this humble four-door sedan continues to be a regular sight on our roads. Having received a makeover recently for the 2025 model year, I was given the keys to find out if the Mirage G4 in top-of-the-line GLS trim is still a worthy buy in the sea of electrified vehicles and crossovers.

Before this most recent facelift, Mitsubishi actually gave it an update for the 2022 model year. Both the 2025 and 2022 model year Mirage G4s largely resemble one another, but Mitsubishi gave the sedan some key upgrades like LED headlights and new LED daytime running lights. The result is better nighttime (and daytime) visibility, as well as a fresher look for the Mirage G4.

Speaking of fresh, Mitsubishi finally answered my prayers by giving it the refreshed taillights it deserves. Unlike the 2022 update, which still kept the 2018 “rear-lift” taillights, Mitsubishi equipped the latest Mirage G4 with the same LED units that can be found in the Thai-spec model. Combined with new 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, the 2025 Mirage G4 looks snazzier.

The exterior changes may be subtle at best, but I have to give props to Mitsubishi for making what is essentially a 12-year-old sedan look fresh despite its age. Yes, a full model change is definitely welcome, but Mitsubishi did its best to spruce up the aging but dependable four-door sedan.

Open the doors, and voila, the cabin of the 2025 Mirage G4 still looks relatively the same when it first debuted over a decade ago. Yes, it will feel quite dated with the screen-heavy treatments that cars receive these days, but this simpler layout means everything is where you expect it to be in the Mirage G4. From the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, to the automatic climate control, the hazard button, the USB port on the center console, and steering wheel buttons, everything is within reach and ergonomic.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay may not be of the wireless kind, but the system was able to recognize my device quickly via the USB port. The leather-wrapped steering wheel with gloss black accents feels nice to the touch, while the stalks have a quality feel to them. But it is perhaps the automatic climate control that truly impressed me inside the Mirage G4.

On cool days, I usually set the temperature at 24 degrees Celsius and set the fan at its lowest setting so I won't freeze to death while inside the vehicle. On hotter days, however, I lower it 22 degrees and set the fan speed between 3 and 4 to keep the heat at bay. It may already be 12 years old, but the automatic climate control of the Mirage G4 remains one of the strongest in the segment.

The Mirage G4 measures just over 4.3 meters long. But with a 2550mm wheelbase, the sedan impresses me with its generous cabin space despite its small footprint. Whether you're seated at the front or in the back, there's plenty of headroom and legroom for four people. Should you have three people seated in the back, the limitations on the width could be a concern if your passengers are of the “hefty” kind.

Like the spacious cabin, the Mirage G4 delivers exceptional trunk space for its size. It's rated to hold up to 450 liters of cargo, which is more than enough space for such a small sedan. But if you want to be more specific, we rolled out the measuring tape, and the Mirage G4 can hold items as long as 36 inches (or 91.4 cm), as wide as 52 inches (or 132.1 cm), and as tall as 23 inches (or 58.4 cm). Mind you, the Mirage G4 is able to do all this despite having a space-saver spare tire in the back.

Under the hood, the 1.2L 3A92 three-cylinder MIVEC engine has been carried over and continues to make 78 PS at 6000 rpm along with 100 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. As before, the top-of-the-line GLS comes with a CVT that drives the front wheels. It may not be the most powerful engine, but in this case, it doesn't have to be since the inline-three is enough to carry the heft while being frugal on gas.

With the smart key tucked away in my pocket, a push of a button starts the 1.2L engine. Since it only has three cylinders, engines of this type tend not to be as refined compared to inline-fours, especially at idle. Once you get going and the revs climb up, however, the CVT does a nice job of ensuring smooth power delivery.

Keep a steady foot while strolling around town, and the CVT keeps the revs low while maintaining forward momentum. At a steady pace of around 25 – 30 km/h, the Mirage G4 can easily return up to 12 km/L. Keep an even steadier foot and you'll be surprised it can do up to 13 km/L.

Out on the highway, the Mirage G4 is still a capable vehicle despite having one of the smallest engines in the segment. It won't be setting up lap times any time soon, but if you know what you're doing and know where the powerband is, the Mirage G4 can be quick on its feet. Overtaking, however, will require a bit of skill, timing, and patience since it only has 100 Nm of torque to play with. If you happen to have several folks on board, then you'll have to figure out when to overtake safely with the CVT-equipped Mirage G4.

Expectations should be managed in terms of performance, but the Mirage G4 excels in delivering fuel efficiency. It can return up to 19.5 km/L at a steady 90 km/h on the highway. For those who like to hypermile, the humble sedan can even sip fuel at over 20 km/L. Paired with a 42-liter fuel tank, the Mirage G4 can really go the distance.

As far as ride comfort is concerned, the Mirage G4 delivers average ride quality. It's not too soft, but it's not too stiff either. Given its small size, the Mirage G4 has surprisingly agile handling. But don't expect it to handle like a performance vehicle, as the suspension is geared towards comfort.

Despite being over a decade old, the Mirage G4 continues to be proof that sedans are not going away soon in the Philippine market. Like the Toyota Vios, the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 has become a staple on local roads and has quickly developed a household name for its ease of maintenance, fuel-efficient engine, and spacious cabin. What it lacks in the way of high-tech gizmos, it makes up for in the ownership experience and the signature Mitsubishi quality and service.

Combined with strong fleet sales and customers who just want a simple runabout, the Mirage G4 will continue to be a strong offering from Mitsubishi. However, the top-of-the-line 1.2 GLS CVT is retailing for PHP 937,000, which is already bordering on the price of more feature-packed B-SUVs and affordable plug-in hybrid sedans like the BYD Seal 5, which starts at PHP 948,000.

There are more affordable variants of the Mirage G4 available, namely the 1.2 GLX MT and GLX AT, which are priced at PHP 793,000 and PHP 841,000, respectively. But as more crossovers and electrified models continue to arrive in the country, the Mirage G4 is in for quite a fight. But in true Mitsubishi fashion, the brand likes to offer discounts, which means buyers can buy a brand new Mirage G4 at more affordable prices.

Customers nowadays are spoiled for choice when buying a brand new car. But for those who still prefer something familiar, simple, reliable, and easy to maintain, the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 comes highly recommended despite its age. Perhaps the only hurdles the Mirage G4 needs to go over are inflation and Father Time.

The 90s may already be a bygone era for most, and we now have cutting-edge vehicles. But a part of me wishes we still drove simpler vehicles like the Mirage G4. It may be my nostalgia talking, but as the saying goes, sometimes less is more.